Bri Books: Recent Episodes
Bri Books
Years of working at digital media companies have netted me one thing: FREE BOOKS. I talk about the books my job gave me, and what matters outside the pages.
Welcome to the Bri Books ‘Career Crash Course' mini-series! I’m sharing all the tips needed to help recent grads navigate the confusing yet exciting ‘real world’ after college. Join me as I discuss career topics that most students don't learn in college--like how to actually land a job--and go deep on lessons learned from my own career across tech, social media, and journalism. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at In this episode, we sit down with Amelia Duffy, a junior and Research Associate attending the School of Information at the . Amelia and Brionna chat about how to leverage interests and hobbies in order to build a portfolio career for yourself postgrad, and the power of having multiple interests when it comes to the working world. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at and follow @ on and . SHOW NOTES 0:00-2:20 - Intro 2:45 - Meet Amelia Duffy, a junior at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, class of 2023. 4:00 - Amelia walks us through her thought process surrounding selecting courses, and how she’s using her college courses to help her make a more informed decision about her career path. 7:00 - “When you stop trying to force something on yourself, what you’re meant to do will come naturally.” - Brionna Jimerson 8:20 - Brionna’s podcast recommendation, , a University of Michigan Ross School of Business graduate who pivoted her entrepreneurial passions into a full-grown career. 12:00 - On moving from company to company: “One of the things I’ve been trying to avoid is feeling pigeonholed into one space. It’s nice to hear about someone who has comfortably switched between roles and companies.” 13:00 - Brionna’s advice on how to switch jobs as a recent grad: “Once you’re on the boat, you can always change decks.” Find a company that has other business arms that interest you, where you can expand and grow into. Set up informational interviews with people who have the skillsets you’re trying to develop.” 20:30 - Amelia’s career advice: “You want to go into a career that goes on your strengths instead of one that just makes money, because 1.) You’ll enjoy it because it’ll come easier to you and 2.) You’ll constantly be trying to catch up because the career won’t ride on your strengths but will ride on the strengths of others. 22:30 - What Amelia wishes she knew about the job search and wants undergraduates to know now: “You don’t need a big name company right out of college. You can grow so much more in other areas of companies. Not every single person in the US from the top college is competing for the same jobs. Take a step back. You have to understand you can grow in other places.” 26:00 - How to pursue interests and extracurriculars as part of your career DNA 29:00 - Brionna’s #BriBooks recommendations for Amelia: and .
SECRETS TO FINDING A JOB AS A RECENT GRAD Welcome to the Bri Books ‘Career Crash Course' mini-series! I’m sharing all the tips needed to help recent grads navigate the confusing yet exciting ‘real world’ after college. Join me as I discuss career topics that most students don't learn in college--like how to actually land a job--and go deep on lessons learned from my own career across tech, social media, and journalism. In this episode, we sit down with Ameenah Rashid, an Associate Analyst at eCommerce startup Profitero, and Tufts class of 2021. Ameenah and Brionna chat about navigating post-grad life and how to make those first crucial career decisions after college. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at , and follow @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter. SHOW NOTES 2:45 - Meet Ameenah Rashid, 21, Associate Analyst at Profitero, an eCommerce startup in Boston. Here’s the story of how Ameenah navigated those first decisions post-college by leaning on her interdisciplinary interests. 3:45 - How Ameenah spent almost the entirety of her senior year of college applying for jobs, ranging from analyst to finance to tech roles. Now that she has some stability, she’s ready to think about the next steps and play her cards more wisely. She’d been on the job search treadmill for a year, and now that she has a chance to stop, she’s working on being intentional about the next phase of her career. 5:20 - On the importance of cultivating interests outside of work. “I’ve always been left-brained and right-brained in my professional interests and hobbies. Career-wise, I’ve done a lot of marketing because there are so many marketing positions. I’ve done marketing, strategy, social media, some consulting, digital work, and I currently work as an analyst. My current role as an analyst is more technical than any role I’ve had before, so I’m leaning into that side of things.” 6:30 - Why it’s important to focus on getting the skill sets you need in order to set yourself up for success, and how to mine your own life’s experiences for ways you can incorporate your own knowledge into your professional life. “In my undergrad life, I’m proud of exploring internships in a diverse range of industries--from engineering education to the Olympics to marketing the editorial--it’s taught me that it doesn't matter if you don’t know everything about the experience. You can pick things up on the fly. 9:30 - The dangers of trying to put yourself into a ‘box’ professionally, and how to leverage your college activities as part of your job search process 16:00 - How Ameenah is making the most of her first job post-college, and Ameenah's advice for soon-to-be graduates/ what she wishes she knew six months ago. . "The whole time I was applying for jobs I was irrationally stressed when in reality if I didn't have a job it'd be fine." 18:00 - Brionna’s #Bribooks read: “Consumed” by Aja Barber 20:00 - Brionna’s #Bribooks recommendation for Ameenah: “Your Money Life: Your 20s” by Peter Dunn.
Transitioning to Natural Hair: 9 Things I Wish I Knew Before Transitioning to Natural Hair I’m recording this episode inspired by an article I wrote at In this episode, I’m sharing the 9 things I wish I knew before transitioning to the natural hair world. 0:45 - My natural hair origin story 2:00 - Tip #1: Be patient and kind with yourself--and your hair, and make sure you’re in a good headspace before starting your hair routine. 3:15 - Tip #2: You still need regular trims. “It's really important to cut your split ends on a regular basis, especially in the first few years,” says Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, the stylist behind Kerry Washington's immaculate curls. 4:15 - Tip #3: You don’t have to big chop if you don’t want to. It’s up to you which road you take, as long as you keep your new growth deeply moisturized. Remember, if you choose to transition your hair, your strands will essentially be two different textures. Opt for protein-rich and moisture-packed hair treatments. 5:05 - Tip #4: The right tools will make all the difference. Detangling brushes! Wide-tooth combs! Silk bonnets! You’re not imagining things—your bathroom counter space is shrinking. Arming yourself with the best tools possible at the onset will save you headaches (literally—good headbands are a must) down the line. 6:00 - Tip #5: Experiment with protective styles--carefully. Aim for your at-home protective styles to last a week and for professional-grade wig or braid installations to last about three months at most. “It can be tempting to play with your hairline while it’s in a protective style, so choose one where there’s flexibility at the crown and your edges," Sturdivant-Drew says. 7:25 - Tip #6: Try to limit heat styling as much as possible. If you do prefer to wear straight styles on your natural-hair journey—I mean, I get it; having two totally different textures in your hair isn't an easy transition!—you’ll need a flatiron that does as little heat damage as possible. I tried the Dyson Corale and can confirm the hype is real and well-deserved, 8:00 - Tip #7: Deep condition weekly. Natural hair requires a lot of extra TLC, and the best way to baby it is to give it lots (and lots) of moisture. To help your deep-conditioning mask work overtime, Sturdivant-Drew recommends putting it on roots to ends and sitting under a heating cap for at least 20 minutes. Doing this once a week will help moisturize, strengthen, and hydrate your curls 9:00 - Tip #8: Consider holding off on color until your transition is done. Sturdivant-Drew warns that keeping up a new hair color and a new natural-hair routine simultaneously can be expensive. “Maintaining color requires a whole other set of hair care and upkeep," she says. "You want to make sure you get to a good place with your natural hair before adding color.” 9:45 - Tip #9: When in doubt, simplify. On the days when my hair journey feels like more of a slug than a full-blown adventure, I like to take a deep breath and go back to basics. Two universally flattering and fool-proof styles I swear by? A simple middle part paired with a low chignon or a ponytail hair extension clip-in.
It’s finally fall! Time to bring out your inner cozy girl and build your relaxation routine. In this episode, I’m sharing my relaxation rituals and tips on how to build a routine of your own, along with my go-to relaxation techniques for stress management. What’s a Relaxation and Stress Management Routine? Your relaxation routine is whatever you want it to be. Maybe it’s an hour per day spent in your own company or a weekend per month off the grid. Basically, whatever helps you turn off one part of your mind and dial into another, that’s the cornerstone of your relaxation practice. Here are 5 ways to build a relaxation routine all your own: 2:25 - Be intentional and selfish about your energy and routine. Plan for it! Take a moment and look ahead on your calendar to set aside dedicated time to practice your relaxation routine. By being selfish with your energy and being intentional about taking your relaxation routine seriously, it’s easier to get back on the horse if you fall off. 3:35 - Romanticize your own life and make a date with yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything intense, but get serious about blocking off time that says ‘Date Night with Me.’ During this time, do whatever you want! Romanticize your own life! Time spent in your own company is never time wasted. 5:05 - The ultimate relaxation cheat code: Indulge the five senses. That means do something that honors your sense of touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing. For my relaxation routine, I’ll choose an activity that honors each of those scents and dedicate a half hour to each one. 9:19 - Focus on little luxurious moments. This concept was introduced to me by , an outstanding creator and businesswoman I’ve been following for years. Recently, Lydia’s been delving more into internal happiness and how everyone’s definition of luxury is different. For me, luxury is going out into my garden in the mornings and seeing new tomatoes, planting seeds, hearing church bells, adding essential oil mist to my freshly-laundered clothes—those are my favorite luxurious moments. Empowering yourself with luxurious moments is crucial to a relaxation routine. Luxury is quality time, not quality things, and a relaxation routine that reflects that doesn’t cost a thing. 11:50 - Create before you consume!! This is a doozy. When I focus on creating before I consume, I notice the anxiety I have around creating was a result of consuming. By creating before consuming you’re able to focus where you want your attention to go when you’re relaxing. It’s all about creating what you want to SEE in the world, before allowing yourself to be sucked in BY the world. What do you do to relax? Sho w me your relaxation routine on Instagram at @Bribookspod and tag me!
Today, I’m sharing my ultimate fall refresh essentials--everything you need to start the cozy season off right. Any change in the seasons and calendar is an opportunity to reset, reflect and refresh and get into the coziest, comfiest fall state of mind. Let me know what your autumn refresh routine looks like at @ on and , and by using # while you listen! 1:37 - #1: A notebook! Every autumn, I go to Paper Source and Barnes and Noble to scour the notebooks, which come in every hue under the sun. I love the bullet journaling approach (here’s an episode of ) I’m starting your fall reset with a notebook because you have to know where you want to go to get to where you want to be. Having a designated place to dump thoughts, plans and problems alleviate mental clutter. (.) 3:20 - #2: New tote bag! The has taken the place of my everyday canvas bag. Inside the CALPAK tote is a removable laptop compartment. My favorite function? The slit in the back AKA the ‘luggage pass-through,’ so you can slip through your carry-on luggage handle. This is the bag that’ll define my fall ‘on-the-go' look. () 5:40 - #3: Bluetooth earbuds! The ones I've been using all summer and will use into winter are the . They're designed for athletes--think runners, rock-climbers--who need reliable earbuds with strong sound performance. They hold a charge for about 24 hours, and the case itself is a charging port. Here’s a , a definitive fall essential that you’ll use year-round. 8:20 - #4: Kitchen essentials! Namely the and . When the temperatures cool down, I get excited to make hot beverages around the clock and roast vegetables 24/7. In this respect, the Balmuda kettle and toaster have become a non-negotiable. All of their products are designed with a minimalist aesthetic to be beautiful and functional. From the kettle's painted stainless steel to the ergonomic handle, using the Balmuda kettle is a downright pleasure. You can use the toaster for roasting veggies, warming bread, baking cookies, steaming fish, warming up leftovers, roasting veggies--basically anything. If it’s time for you to make an investment in your kitchen appliances as the cozy season creeps up, the Balmuda kettle and toaster deserve a spot on your list and kitchen counter. and . 12:15 - #5: Tea and cider! Now is the perfect time to add tea and cider to your beverage collection. You can make apple cider slushies, cocktails, etc. at home to give a seasonal refresh to your beverage collection. My favorite autumnal teas are and . 15:00 - #6: Handcream! Two hand creams I’ve been loving: and . I’ve been using Caudalie Nail Repair for five years now, and I buy a new tube each autumn. Rich in shea butter, avocado butter, polyphenols, the touch is so hydrating. If you prefer a rich hand cream that doesn't leave a greasy film, this is the one. Here’s a Up next: the Avya Nourishing Hand Treatment. Avya nourishing hand treatment is rooted in ayurvedic medicine and has hyaluronic acid that helps hydrate and protects the dry chapped skin of your hands. The best part: the founder of Avya Skincare originally created the product as a face cream. Here’s a hand treatment. 17:23 - #7: Aromatherapy tools! When you think of autumn, certain scents come to mind: pumpkin, dried leaves, apples, rain, mulled cider. Take that exact same energy, bottle it up, and you have . The atomizer is a waterless and portable diffuser, meaning you can carry it with you from room to room. is one of my favorite British brands, well-known in the wellness space for their innovative approach to aromatherapy. The diffuser disperses a microfine mist directly from the essential oil bottle. And since there is no water, it is easy to move around without the need to clean between uses. The ‘Deep Relax’ essential oil blend and the ‘Breathe’ pure essential oil blend are my absolute favorites for everyday use. Don’t overlook the power of scent in creating a space that...
Welcome to Bri Books! Today we’re jumping into the best new makeup products to buy at Sephora! Listen to part one here, 1:25: #1: , a luxury clean, minimalist beauty brand, just launched at Clean at Sephora! I was able to test out Merit products while at Glamour.com () Their seven-piece collection is a curated chorus of everyday products, including foundation sticks, eyebrow gel, mascara, lip slicks, cheek tint, a makeup brush, and highlighter. I think Merit’s products are perfect for what I call a ‘Zoom beat,’ and they’re perfect to just grab and apply during the summer months. My favorite shade slick in shade Sangria looks phenomenal on deep dark skin, along with the Day Glow highlighter! . 4:40: #2: Finally, a Charlotte Tilbury palette that works flawlessly on my deep brown skin! I’ve been waiting for this palette all summer--it’s a four-color quad with shades from soft champagne to luxe chocolate that give a luxe, marbled, old Hollywood glow. Launching at Sephora on August 26, this palette will become your go-to for all of your late summer, early fall, and even winter (!!!) beauty looks. Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm Palette is available on CharlotteTilbury.com and at Bonus: The lip and cheek tint in ‘Love Chain,’ gives the prettiest cherry glow and instantly brightens up my makeup look. 8:33: #3: : I love that this foundation is water-lightweight, and gives perfect light to medium coverage. It’s perfect for the humid summer months when you can’t be bothered with a full face of makeup. I like to apply this foundation with a touch of sunscreen or moisturizer to create a tinted moisturizer that stands up to summer sweat. 10:15: : Robyn Fenty has done it again! The Fenty Skin Buff Ryder Exfoliating Body Scrub is a gentle, tropical-inspired scrub packed with super-fine sand, sugar, and nourishing oils. I love to apply this scrub in the shower, rub it into my skin, and then let the water rinse the excess scrub away. 12:15: #5: : Kosas understands that only focusing on the skin on your face does a disservice to the rest of your body. This daily exfoliating cleanser helps to unclog pores, visibly smooth the texture of the skin, and fight body skin blemishes. It’s gentle enough for everyday use and leaves my skin feeling brand-new. . Let me know what your skincare routine looks like at @ on and , and by using # while you listen!
Welcome to Bri Books! Today I’m sharing with you the best new products at Sephora--this summer’s best new Sephora launches that are worth your time, energy, and coin. My intention is to inspire your fall beauty routine, so I’m breaking it down into the best skin care products at Sephora, the best makeup products at Sephora, and the best new body care products at Sephora. I’ve included links to all the products in the show notes and on 1:55: #1: Originally released in 2018, the Rich Cream quickly attained unprecedented status among the skincare elite. I was able to review . After that experience, I got the hype! For the 2021 update, Prof. Bader and his researchers returned to the lab to create a new version that focuses on cellular renewal. Since I've been using the original The Cream for a year, after trying out the updated formulation, I did notice a visible reduction in the pollution and clogged pores I had. I love to use The Cream as the highlight of my nighttime routine. It includes TFC8, which is known to reduce hyperpigmentation in the skin. , and you can pick up . 4:45 #2: I've been quietly obsessing over Saint Jane all summer and spring, and the brand has finally launched in Sephora! The Hydrating Petal Cream is an all-day moisturizer with hibiscus peptides and floral essences (a cottagecore skincare dream) including antioxidant-rich magnolia and honeysuckle. Inspired by how flower petals maintain luxurious hydration, the Saint Jane founder developed this incredible product that helps to reduce stress in the skin. The best part? It doubles as a post-sun treatment with soothing active ingredients that calm sun-sensitive skin. . 8:00: #3: : Another new to Sephora launch, this Tatcha treatment began as a personal formulation request from Vicky Tsai, founder of Tatcha, who dealt with eczema and flare-ups over the last year and wanted to create something to soothe her own skin. If you’re dealing with regular skin inflammation, the Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum is for you. I love how this product rebalances my skin at night and helps it regenerate itself while I sleep. After a long night (or early morning), I reach for this treatment to get rid of any irritation. It exceeded my expectations, and I think it’s a great pick for acne-prone skin. The 10:30: Quick Break 10:50: #4: : This clay-based skin mask is great for combating oily skin in the summer months. It delivers a chill and purifies the skin, similar in effect to the Nordic cold cleanse tradition of jumping into chilly water. It’s perfect for skincare Sundays and hot summer days alike. Here’s a link to an Instagram Reels I created all about the 13:30: #5: : Packed with lemon enzyme, aloe juice, AHAs and PHAs, this night acid is the perfect one-and-done acid product for your skincare routine. It just launched in Sephora on July 26, inspired by Ole Henriksen’s spa heritage. This product feels custard-like, the lemony sugar scent is divine at the end of a long day. Dewtopia is the perfect balance of exfoliating and nourishing components. 16:30: #6: : This epic vitamin C-based peel is formulated with spirulina, a blue-green algae known for its antioxidant properties. I use it as a resurfacing peel to help reduce hyperpigmentation and was blown away at how gentle this peel is. If the words ‘peel’, ‘correcting,’ and ‘brightening’ conjure up thoughts of burning skin, fear not, this is by far the most gentle, non-irritating peel I’ve ever used. There’s a tingle--so you know it’s working--but it quickly vanishes. Pro tip: Pick up Algenist’s Vitamin C Brightening Serum for double protection. When used together, I saw results within a week, and members of my family who also tested the product reported noticing a more even complexion and skin texture after a week of regular use. , and the . Let me know what your skincare routine looks like at @ on and , and by using # while you listen! ...